Yes, let's celebrate! (Banana soft serve)

This past week has been hard for me, mentally and physically. When the weather is cool, cold, windy, and we have a change in the weather pattern, it simply affects me with my auto-immune disease. The wind just didn't blow, it H.O.W.L.E.D. for days on end. I did get a few short runs in this week, one 6 mile bike ride & a 5 mile bike ride, zumba and pilate classes along with a couple of 2 to 3 mile walks. Why? Because I had signed up for a 2 mile run on Saturday, today, and I needed to move my body to be prepared as much as possible.

Then I fell on Thursday evening in class and hurt my right hip, and both of my shoulder blades. I asked for prayer on Friday night from friends letting them know that I had a run this morning and really wanted to be able to perform.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. feeling better than I did when I went to bed, so that was a PRAISE! Jumped in the warm shower, grabbed a small cup of decaf coffee and as we walked out the door I had a slice of Whole Foods "Seeduction" bread toasted with fresh almond butter for fuel. We drove 25 miles to the race location, picked up my racing bib as I had pre-registered and waited for the event to start. At 7:30 a.m. it was 39 degrees with about a 10 mph wind out of the north as each of us left the start line.

I have no official count but I would say there were close to 50 of us, running your choice of three events. A 2 mile run, an 8k, or a 3 person relay, and I was entered and ready for the 2 mile run. This was only my third race, ever, and both prior races were 5k's. This past week, I finally was able to accomplish running a full 2 miles. This morning, that was my goal, more than time, I wanted to accomplish and finish running the full two miles.

When I came through the gates for the finish line, there was my Man, cheering me on!! I finished 52 seconds quicker than what I ran it earlier this week and I did run all two miles!!! I was pumped! God so out did Himself, as we stayed for the results and found out that I placed FIRST in my age group of women, and our group had the most entrants. If you haven't read my previous post, then you may not realize but mid January of 2011, I began running. One city block at a time, perhaps 3 or 4 blocks in a 2 mile stretch. So, for me, this is H-U-G-E!! Thank You Lord Jesus for changing me, from the inside out. For giving me the strength to endure and finish the race that has been set out before me. For giving me such an awesome "mantra" in Isaiah 40:31...."I will run and not grow weary, I will walk and faint not..."

In the afternoon, I decided it was time to celebrate, so I whipped up a batch of "Banana Soft Serve" and it was delicious!!! I no longer dine on caffeine (including chocolate), or processed foods which include white sugar. So this was a real treat as this also means that since September, I no longer eat ice cream. You have no idea how much I enjoy ice cream. Today was a real treat!!!

Banana Soft Serve

2 1/2 to 3 bananas, peeled and frozen

Place them in food processor and process for 5 full minutes.

Yep, that is it, and then I topped with chopped walnuts and a carob powder and agave nectar glaze. I did not come up with this on my own, and one day blog hopping I came across it here.